Recipe Monday

Today's recipe is for Tri-Berry Spinach Salad. I love salads and homemade vinaigrettes, but my husband on the other hand won't eat a salad unless it has meat in it. So I don't make salads at home to often. I first made this salad for our Relief Society Birthday party a few years ago and ever since than I make for other occasion. It is a great summer salad, but it can be made anytime of the year.

Tri-Berry Spinach Salad

Dressing
1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Salad
1 pkg. prewashed fresh baby spinach (about 7 cups)
1/3 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/3 cup fresh blueberries
1/3 cup fresh raspberries
1/4 cup sliced red onions

In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients; mix well*. In a large serving bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Pour dressing over salad; toss gently to coat.

*You can make the dressing the night before, refrigerating it in a jar or container with a lid. Just before serving, shake the jar until the dressing is well-combined.

Recipe Source:Pillsbury Annual Recipes 2006- Cookbook

Rainy Day

Today it was raining outside so I let the girls go outside and play in it for awhile. Since we live in Arizona we don't get a whole lot of rain. They had a blast running and splashing. Xanyae wanted to go out and join them, but he has been a little sick, so I let him watch from the front door.
Mom we love the rain!!
Sadie always has to have something in her hands. Today she is holding two princess pencils.
Jumping in the big puddle.

Xanyae wishing he was jumping in the puddles too.

Dear Rain,

We had a lot of fun playing in you today and hope you come back and visit us soon.

Love,

The James Kids

8 Months

Xanyae is 8 months now and he is approaching the 1 year mark just to fast. Xanyae is on the go all the time and now he into everything. He has discovered the toilet and that it has water that he can play in. He also loves that he can eat more solid foods and thinks that whatever we are eating he needs some too. He is the process of getting 4 top teeth and has been extra cranky. I can't wait for those teeth to finally come in. Xanaye likes to bite his favorite things to bite are his mom and toes. He has said his first word and it is momma or mom. He is my first child to say momma first the girls all said dada way before they said momma. He is very much a mommy's boy and I am trying to enjoy that as much as I can.

Recipe Monday

Today's recipe is Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta. I found this recipe awhile ago, but never made it because it had bacon in it. I personally do not like bacon, but my family loves it. I had some bacon in the fridge that I needed to use up so I thought I would give this recipe a try. This recipe was delicious and my family ate it up.
Photo courtesy of Real Mom Kitchen.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

8 ounces uncooked tube or spiral pasta
1 pound ground beef
6 strips of bacon, diced
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup (4 ounces) cheddar cheese, shredded
Barbecue sauce

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile in a skillet cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In the same skillet, cook bacon until crisp(I do mine in the microwave); remove with slotted spoon to paper towels. Discard drippings. Drain pasta; add to skillet. Add soup, beef, and bacon; heat through. Mix in desired amount of barbecue sauce. Sprinkle with cheese; cover and cook until the cheese is melted. 4-6 servings

Recipe Source:Real Mom Kitchen

1st Day Of School

Yesterday was Karma's first day of Preschool. I am a little sad that she is starting school, but excited for her to make new friends and learn new things. She is also really excited and has been asking me every morning for the past few weeks if she starts to school today. Karma is also happy to be going to school with her friend Evan.


Karma and Evan in the car on the way to school.
Taking a picture before we go inside.

After the first day, Karma loves school and she loves her teacher. She told me of all the fun things she got to do and she can't wait to back. I hope when she gets older she likes school as much as she likes it right now.

What's been going on....

I am so behind on my blog right now, so here is a little bit of what has been going on lately. At the end of July we had a Mc Daniel family reunion in Virden, New Mexico. We had a blast spending a few days with family. We played games, had a talent show, ate a lot, and just relaxed. We also got a few good family pictures.

Karma getting a chance to do the slingshot.

Sadie getting a chance at the slingshot.

Xanyae and Daddy watching the talent show.

Family picture with Mumphy and Pops. We are just missing Lance and Jack.

I love this picture of Xanyae and Caylee.

On Aug. 3 I turned 27. Wow can't believe that I am already 27. I had a great birthday spending it with my favorite people.

Curbris's parents and brother Terrance came and visited us for a couple days before Terrance had to enter the MTC. We loved having them here and was really sad to see them leave. The girls had fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa. We are looking forward to another visit from them soon.

Playing Hungry Hippo with grandma.

Xanyae loves his grandma.

The girls had a blast with their grandpa.

This was one of the girls favorite thing to do with grandpa. Grandpa was such a trooper.

At Bass Pro Shop.

Karma found this bear at Bass Pro Shop, at first she was a little scared, but she soon warmed up to it.

Grandma we love you!!

Grandma and grandpa hope you had a great time with us come back and visit us soon. Last picture with Uncle Terrance until he comes back from his mission.

Recipe Monday

Today's recipe is for cake and not a normal cake, but a wacky cake. The reason this recipe is called a wacky cake is because some of the ingredients are not what you find in a typical cake recipe. This recipe uses no eggs or butter, instead you use oil, water, and vinegar. The first time I baked this cake I was a little nervous because it really smelled like vinegar and I was afraid that I would only be able to taste vinegar. I was actually really surprised when I tasted the cake it was a very moist.

Wacky Cake

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 Tbsp. cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt
2 cups water
1 cup oil
2 tsp. white vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 375. Once cooled frost or dust with powdered sugar.

Recipe Source: A Taste of Heaven (My Aunt Lisa's ward cookbook)